Interactive kiosk for mobile electronics

ABSTRACT

A kiosk for vending and reverse-vending of mobile electronic devices. The kiosk includes a case that defines an inner compartment configured to store mobile devices for vending. The case includes a front panel and a user interface is positioned along the front panel. The kiosk includes a vending bay and a storage bay configured to receive user mobile devices. The kiosk includes a diagnostic cable wire harness configured to be accessible at the storage bay. The kiosk includes a computing device having a communication element configured for communication with at least one carrier server for service activation and/or de-activation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current patent application is a non-provisional patent applicationwhich claims priority benefit to identically-titled U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/302,439, filed Mar. 2, 2016, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety into the current patentapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The invention relates to systems, devices and methods for vending mobileelectronic devices. More specifically, embodiments of the inventioninclude systems, devices and methods for automating and integrating theevaluation, valuation, trade-in and sale of mobile electronic devices.

2. Discussion of Related Art

There are known devices and methods for the sale of new mobile devices.Further, there are known devices and methods for the valuation andpurchase of used devices. Still further, there are methods of preparingdevices for an intended use or purpose. However, these categories ofservices are presently provided by unsophisticated processes and vialargely uncoordinated platforms. More particularly, these transactionsand configurations are implemented using a variety of disparate manual,assisted, and automated processes carried out by and through acombination of skilled individuals and technological processes andinterfaces.

Present systems and methods inevitably lead to redundant costs to theuser and other parties, increases in the time and labor required toachieve such transactions, and increases in the likelihood of systematicand human errors as well as incompatibilities between the varioustechnologies and/or platforms. Present systems and methods also requireadditional reconciliation “after-the-fact” in order to properly accountfor the various transactions, transfers, configurations andredisposition of mobile electronic devices according to common inventoryand accounting practices. If such reconciliation is not timely, serviceinterruption, record inaccuracy and billing problems, and other similarproblems may develop. There is a need for an improved medium forconducting such transaction(s) relating to mobile electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following brief description is provided to indicate the nature ofthe subject matter disclosed herein. While certain aspects of thepresent inventive concept are described below, the summary is notintended to limit the scope of the present inventive concept.Embodiments of the present inventive concept provide an interactivekiosk including combined hardware and software features configured forvending, reverse-vending, configuration of, content/contact datatransfer to/from and/or diagnostic services for mobile electronicsdevices. Embodiments of the present inventive concept include a systemfor provision of these services. The present inventive concept addressesone or more of the deficiencies of conventional technologies andplatforms such as those previously set forth herein.

The aforementioned may be achieved in one aspect of the presentinventive concept by providing a kiosk for vending and reverse-vendingof mobile electronic devices. The kiosk includes a case that defines aninner compartment configured to store mobile devices for vending. Thecase includes a front panel and a user interface is positioned along thefront panel. The kiosk includes a vending bay and a storage bayconfigured to receive user mobile devices. The kiosk includes adiagnostic cable wire harness configured to be accessible at the storagebay. The kiosk includes a computing device having a communicationelement configured for communication with at least one carrier serverfor service activation and/or de-activation.

The aforementioned may be achieved in another aspect of the presentinventive concept by providing a computer-implemented method forreverse-vending a mobile electronic device and completing a saletransaction at a kiosk. The method includes establishing a dataconnection with the mobile electronic device and executing a diagnosticapplication. The method further includes determining, from execution ofthe diagnostic application, at least one characteristic of the mobileelectronic device and comparing at least one characteristic of themobile electronic device against an electronic pricing sheet to generatea purchase offer for the mobile electronic device based at least in parton the comparison against the electronic pricing sheet. The method stillfurther includes generating a sale offer for display at the kiosk andapplying the purchase offer as a credit toward the sale offer inconnection with completion of a commercial transaction.

Additional aspects, advantages, and utilities of the present inventionwill be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present inventive concept are described in detailbelow with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system for conducting a transaction viaa kiosk according to an embodiment of the present inventive concept;

FIG. 2 illustrates various exemplary components of a computing device ofthe kiosk of FIG. 1, shown in block schematic form;

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary mobile electronic devices for evaluation,trade/in and/or purchase at the kiosk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the kiosk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front schematic view of the kiosk of FIG. 1 having frontpanels swung open to reveal internal components of the kiosk;

FIG. 6 is an elevated perspective view of the kiosk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom and rear perspective view of the kiosk of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a kiosk according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept having a single storage bay door;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a kiosk according to an embodimentof the present inventive concept configured to resemble an android form;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a kiosk according to anembodiment of the present inventive concept with user-facing componentsarranged for accessibility by seated users;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a kiosk according to anembodiment of the present inventive concept with user-facing componentsarranged for accessibility by seated users;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a kiosk according to anembodiment of the present inventive concept with user-facing componentsarranged for accessibility by seated users;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a kiosk according to anembodiment of the present inventive concept configured for wallmounting;

FIG. 14 illustrates six different kiosks according to variousembodiments of the present inventive concept from elevated perspectiveviews;

FIG. 15 illustrates various modular components comprising a kioskaccording to an embodiment of the present inventive concept from anelevated perspective view; and

FIG. 16 illustrates the steps of an exemplary method for conducting acombined transaction via a kiosk according to an embodiment of thepresent inventive concept.

The drawing figures do not limit the present inventive concept to thespecific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings arenot necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention references theaccompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describeaspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled inthe art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized andchanges can be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is definedonly by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents towhich such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or“embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to areincluded in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separatereferences to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” inthis description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and arealso not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Forexample, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment mayalso be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included.Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinationsand/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

A system according to embodiments of the present inventive concept mayinclude means for: vending one or more types of mobile electronicsdevices, each of which may require any of a variety of activation stepsto be performed; recording and transmitting identifying and/or billinginformation for each vended mobile device and its associated vendee oruser to enable the provision of third party services (such as carrierservices) to such user(s); setting up and/or configuring the vendedmobile electronics device(s), which may be governed by standardizedpolicies developed for use specifically with kiosks according toembodiments of the present inventive concept; transferring personal datato and/or from the mobile electronics devices; evaluating the worth andsuitability for service of pre-owned mobile electronic devices; andtransferal of content, settings, and other parameters to and from mobileelectronic devices, and to perform various other functions describedherein.

As a particular illustrative example, in the wireless phone industry akiosk according to embodiments of the present inventive concept may beutilized within mobile carrier and third party retail environments, oras stand-alone units. A kiosk may be branded to promote retention forspecific carriers, or may be brand-agnostic to offer transactions fromany provider or carrier. For instance the kiosk may enable cross-carriertrade-in via third party trade-in partners, original equipmentmanufacturers, first party operating system vendors or the like. Itcould also allow retrieval of inventory that correlates to an onlinepurchase.

More broadly, it is also envisioned that kiosks according to embodimentsof the present inventive concept may vend and/or reverse-vend otherconsumer or commercial products and mobile electronic devices.Preferably, such mobile electronic devices are of the type commonly usedin conjunction with one or more data services, are configured forcommunications network connectivity, and/or are subject to subscriptionor authorization-based access or services. Examples include laptops,eReaders, tablets, industrial and commercial devices, configurable smartpower tools, equipment that is physically leased but which requires alsoa separately charged usage or access based fee, or other devices such asthose which require activation, authorization, or configuration prior toor during usage.

Still more broadly, a plurality of distributed kiosks may pool datagenerated through vending and reverse-vending mobile electronic devicesto more effectively control licensed content. More particularly, theduration and nature of use of licensed content—such as software,electronic manuscripts, media, or other controlled assets—may berecorded through tracking such mobile electronic device(s) and/orcontent access data. In certain embodiments, licensed content may bemade available exclusively through use of specialized readers orapplications and/or via streaming functionality, such that control overaccess and use may be realized through issuing instructions to preventor restrict access to the specialized application and/or through simplyrestricting or preventing streaming of the licensed content. It isforeseen that mobile electronic devices vended or reverse-vendedaccording to embodiments of the present inventive concept may be leasedfor temporary use, for example, during the term in which a user islicensed to use such content, and that such a mobile electronic devicemay be configured to provide a notification to the user whenreverse-vending becomes appropriate based on the expiration of suchlicense(s).

Exemplary System

Turning to FIG. 1, a system 100 is illustrated that includes anautomated kiosk 102 according to an embodiment of the present inventiveconcept. The kiosk 102 includes an interactive user interface 104through which users may conduct multiple complex transactions withoutassistance or intervention from customer service personnel or otherskilled participants. It is foreseen that ancillary and/or supportingservices may, however, be provided by customer service personnel or thelike, preferably from a remote location, without departing from thespirit of the present inventive concept.

The kiosk 102 provides automated point of sale services, described inmore detail below, relating to mobile electronics devices. Moreparticularly, the kiosk 102 preferably is configured to at leasttemporarily receive pre-owned user devices 106, for example where theuser seeks a trade-in, and to vend inventoried user devices 108, forexample where the user seeks to purchase a new device or an inventoriedpre-owned device. Exemplary types of user devices—namely, tablet a,mobile phone b and laptop computer c—are illustrated in FIG. 3, it beingunderstood that a wide variety of mobile electronics devices may beevaluated and/or exchanged at the kiosk without departing from thespirit of the present inventive concept.

The kiosk 102 preferably includes at least one linking means—for examplea wireless transceiver (see communication element 115 of FIG. 2) and/oran electrical connector (see diagnostic cable wire harness 168 of FIG.5) including at least one data cable having a terminal comprising a plugconfigured to mate with corresponding data port(s) of at least one typeof mobile device—for data exchange with the mobile devices 106, 108. Asused herein, “data” is used broadly to refer to commands, instructions,personal information, device information, inventory information, accountinformation, system configurations and/or settings, and any otherinformation capable of being transmitted via a telecommunicationsnetwork and/or stored on a mass storage device.

The kiosk 102 preferably also includes a computing device 110. (See FIG.2) Broadly, the computing device 110 generally retains electronic dataand may respond to requests to retrieve data, as well as to store data.The computing device 110 may be embodied by general-purpose computers,computer control boards, application servers, database servers, fileservers, gaming servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, orthe like, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, the computing device 110may include a plurality of servers, virtual servers, or combinationsthereof. The computing device 110 may be configured to include orexecute software, such as file storage applications, databaseapplications, email or messaging applications, web server applications,diagnostics applications or the like, which collectively may be referredto herein as “kiosk software application(s)” when referring to functionsspecified herein. It should be noted that the “kiosk softwareapplication” may include application software and/or systems software orthe like without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept.

More particularly, in a preferred embodiment the computing device 110includes a processing element 112 for executing the kiosk softwareapplication. The kiosk software application may be stored in a memoryelement 114, along with various data described herein. The kiosksoftware application may be embodied on a machine-readable medium or ina transmission signal. The kiosk software application may includeinstructions to be executed by the processing element 112 forcontrolling the various moving components (discussed below) of the kiosk102 and/or for performing the steps described herein. The computingdevice 110 may implement instructions generated at the kiosk 102 and/orreceived from an external source (such as a third party system discussedbelow) to perform the services and method steps of embodiments of thepresent inventive concept. The kiosk software application may containinstructions for automatically configuring and/or evaluating mobileelectronic devices 106, 108, enabling and/or carrying out portions ofpayment transactions, vending and/or reverse-vending mobile electronicsdevices 106, 108, and/or activating and defining and/or de-activatingtelecommunications carrier service plans associated with such mobileelectronics devices 106, 108, all in accordance with and/or as fairlyunderstood from the exemplary embodiments and methods described herein.

Additionally or alternatively, the processing element 112 may beconfigured to execute one or more software applications independentfrom, together with and/or as part of the kiosk software application,with such application(s) containing and/or providing for implementationof instructions for managing inventory and/or carrying outdiagnostics/evaluation, configuration, vending, reverse-vending and/orcontent/contact data transfer processes on personal mobile electronicsdevices 106, 108. Such applications may also contain and/or provide forimplementation of instructions for initiating, tracking and/orcompleting payment transactions. The processing element 112 ispreferably configured to direct the memory element 114 to store, and/orto direct the communications element 115 (discussed below) to transmitto external databases, data for tracking changes in internal inventory,overall inventory figures and metadata, and/or other inventory data,preferably in a structured format. Additionally, the processing element112 is preferably configured to direct the memory element 114 to store,and/or to direct the communications element 115 to transmit to externaldatabases, data comprising records regarding any and all functionsperformed by the kiosk 102 and/or data received at or provided by thekiosk 102, such as payment records and/or sync records discussed in moredetail below.

The processing element 112 may include electronic hardware componentssuch as processors, microprocessors (single-core and multi-core),microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmablegate arrays (FPGAs), analog and/or digital application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), or the like, or combinations thereof. Theprocessing element 112 may generally execute, process, or runinstructions, code, code segments, software, firmware, programs,applications, apps, modules, agents, processes, services, daemons, orthe like. The processing element 112 may also include hardwarecomponents such as finite-state machines, sequential and combinationallogic, and other electronic circuits that can perform the functionsnecessary for the operation of the current invention. The processingelement 112 may be in communication with the other electronic componentsthrough serial or parallel links that include address busses, databusses, control lines, and the like.

The memory element 114 may include electronic hardware data storagecomponents such as read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM, erasableprogrammable ROM, random-access memory (RAM) such as static RAM (SRAM)or dynamic RAM (DRAM), cache memory, hard disks, floppy disks, opticaldisks, flash memory, thumb drives, universal serial bus (USB) drives, orthe like, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the memoryelement 114 may be embedded in, or packaged in the same package as, theprocessing element 112. The memory element 114 may include, or mayconstitute, a “computer-readable medium.” The memory element may storethe instructions, code, code segments, software, firmware, programs,applications, apps, modules, agents, services, daemons, or the like thatare executed by the processing element 112. The memory element 114 mayalso store settings, data, documents, sound files, photographs, movies,images, databases, and the like.

The computing device 110 also includes a communication element 115 whichgenerally allows communication with external systems or devices, such asvia communication network 120 (discussed below), wireless communicationand/or data transmission over one or more direct or indirect radio linksbetween devices. The communication element 115 may include signal ordata transmitting and receiving circuits, such as antennas, amplifiers,filters, mixers, oscillators, digital signal processors (DSPs), and thelike. The communication element 115 may establish communicationwirelessly by utilizing RF signals and/or data that comply withcommunication standards such as cellular 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G, WiFi, WiMAX,LTE, Bluetooth™ and the like, or combinations thereof. In addition, thecommunication element 115 may utilize communication standards such asANT, ANT+, Bluetooth™ low energy (BLE), the industrial, scientific, andmedical (ISM) band at 2.4 gigahertz (GHz), or the like.

Alternatively or in addition, the communication element 115 mayestablish communication through electrical connectors or couplers thatreceive metal conductor wires or cables which are compatible withnetworking technologies, such as Ethernet, and/or through a diagnosticcable wire harness of the kiosk (discussed below) and/or additionalports for wired connection to mobile electronics devices 106, 108. Incertain embodiments, the communication element 115 may also couple withoptical fiber cables. The communication element 115 may be incommunication with the processing element 112 and the memory element114, again such as via wired connection, wireless communication and/ordata transmission over one or more radio links. The communicationelement 115 may establish communication with all or some of a variety ofmodular components of the kiosk 102 and/or with a variety of mobileelectronic devices 106, 108 via one or more of the foregoing wiredand/or wireless means, and may alternately rely on the various means asnecessary or expedient, without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept.

Returning to discussion of the system 100 more broadly, the servicesprovided by the kiosk 102 during a given user session are preferablydetermined, at least generally, by input from and selections of theuser, as described in more detail below. The input and selections may beprovided at the common user interface 104 and/or remotely. Remote inputfor use at the kiosk 102 may be provided via mobile applications and/orweb based applications or the like with which the user interacts, and insome cases may be provided by third party systems such as thosecontrolled by telecommunications carriers. For instance, the kiosk 102is preferably configured to link with remote data sources to retrievedata and user input that may streamline the provision of services uponarrival and/or while at the kiosk 102. Data may be exchanged with aplurality of remote devices, and data aggregated from the plurality ofremote devices and/or from the kiosk 102 may direct the composition andprogression of services provided by the kiosk 102.

The kiosk 102 is also preferably configured to provide one or moreservices described herein by accessing pre-programmed instructionsand/or stored data specific to individual users. For example, suchindividualized data may comprise transactional or other instructionsreceived from a telecommunications carrier or service provider that areintended to govern certain aspects of transactions involving theprovider's customers. For another example, such data may relate morespecifically to an individual's account history, device history,preferences or other individualized historical data. More particularly,the kiosk 102 may access an individual user's personal profile to helpinform the provision of services. The user profile may be generatedbased on past interactions with kiosks 102 and/or may be or be based ondata obtained from third parties such as the aforementioned serviceproviders. Accessing user information, event history, account settings,device settings, preferences and other data without requiring such datato be input in connection with each transaction may increase theefficiency with which the kiosk 102 provides services.

In keeping with the discussion above, the kiosk 102 may receive datafrom, and may upload data to, third party systems. For instance, thekiosk 102 may interrogate third party databases—following authenticationand access authorization, where applicable—to retrieve settings and/orparameters applicable to a proposed transaction, device, service and/oruser. The kiosk 102 may also upload user data/requests to a third partysystem and receive applicable settings and/or parameters generated basedthereon. Such third party systems may be controlled by, for example,service providers, employers, account holders other than the user,sellers, manufacturers, and entities with legal authority relating tothe user(s).

Data may be exchanged in embodiments of the present inventive conceptvia telecommunications infrastructure and communication networks. Forinstance, returning briefly to the exemplary system 100 of FIG. 1, datamay be exchanged via a communication network 120: between the kiosk 102and remote carrier servers 116, 118; between the kiosk 102 and devices106, 108; and/or between the devices 106, 108 and carrier servers 116,118. Such data may, for example, enable account activation and/ordeactivation in relation to particular mobile device(s) 106, 108 and/oractivation/deactivation of particular features or aspects of servicesprovided under such account(s). The data may also comprise userinformation, event history, account settings, device settings,preferences and other data supporting performance of services by thekiosk 102 and/or telecommunications service providers.

The kiosk 102 and each of the mobile electronic devices 106, 108 may beconfigured to send data to and/or receive data from one another and/orcarrier servers 116, 118 directly and/or via the communication network120 using one or more suitable communication protocols, which may be thesame communication protocols or different communication protocols as oneanother. To provide an example, the mobile electronic devices 106, 108may be configured to communicate with one another and/or with the kiosk102 via a direct radio link, which may utilize, for example, a Wi-Fidirect protocol, an ad-hoc cellular communication protocol, or the like.

For another example, each of the mobile electronic devices 106, 108and/or the kiosk 102 may be configured to communicate indirectly withone another and/or any suitable device such as remote third partyserver(s) via communications over the links comprising communicationnetwork 120. The communication network 120 may include local areanetworks, metro area networks, wide area networks, cloud networks, theInternet, cellular networks, plain old telephone service (POTS)networks, and the like, or combinations thereof. The communicationnetwork 120 may be wired, wireless, or combinations thereof and mayinclude components such as modems, gateways, switches, routers, hubs,access points, repeaters, towers, and the like. The mobile electronicdevices 106, 108 and/or the kiosk 102 may connect to the communicationnetwork either through wires, such as electrical cables or fiber opticcables, or wirelessly, such as radio frequency (RF) communication usingwireless standards such as cellular 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards such asWiFi, IEEE 802.16 standards such as WiMAX, Bluetooth™, or combinationsthereof.

The communication network 120 may be implemented as any suitable networkconfigured to facilitate communications between the mobile electronicdevices 106, 108, kiosk 102 and/or third party computer system(s). Forexample, the communication network 120 may include one or moretelecommunication networks, nodes, and/or links used to facilitate dataexchanges between one or more devices, and may facilitate a connectionto the Internet for devices configured to communicate with thecommunication network 120. The communication network 120 may include anysuitable number of interconnected network components that form anaggregate network system, such as dedicated access lines, plain ordinarytelephone lines, satellite links, cellular base stations, a publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), or the like, or any suitablecombination thereof. The communication network 120 may include, forexample, a proprietary network, a secure public internet, a secureelectronic communication network, a mobile-based network, a virtualprivate network, or the like.

In aspects in which the communication network 120 facilitates aconnection to the Internet, data communications may take place over thecommunication network 120 via one or more suitable Internetcommunication protocols. For example, the communication network 120 maybe implemented as a wireless telephony network (e.g., GSM, CDMA, LTE,etc.), a Wi-Fi network (e.g., via one or more IEEE 802.11 Standards), aWiMAX network, a Bluetooth network, etc.

Returning to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, exemplary components ofa communication network 120 include a link 122, which may be a wirelessconnection, between a newly-vended device 108 and one or both of carrierservers 116, 118, for example to enable configuration and setup of thenew device 108. Exemplary components of the preferred communicationnetwork 120 may also include a link 122 between the kiosk 102 and anetwork interface controller (NIC) 124, the NIC being configured tomanage communications with a local network controller 126 and/or anintranet network 128. The kiosk 102 may also connect to the localnetwork controller 126 via a Wifi link or the like 122. The localnetwork controller 126 may provide a link 122 between the kiosk 102 andone or both of carrier servers 116, 118 via the Internet 127. Theintranet network 128 may also serve as a means for linking the kiosk 102to the servers 116, 118. In this manner or in similar configurations,the communication network 120 may connect the kiosk 102 to OS-specificcloud based features (e.g. Google® account and iCloud® data),enterprise/government/organizational policy servers, third party syncservices, carrier services, and the like. It is foreseen that, in anembodiment, facilitating exchanges with a kiosk may include or consistof private, local and/or isolated communication networks—for exampleexisting behind a firewall or otherwise being isolated from publiccommunication network(s)—without departing from the spirit of thepresent inventive concept.

In this manner, embodiments of the invention may provide an automatedand relatively comprehensive retail point of sale for mobileelectronics. Namely, a preferred embodiment of the kiosk 102 isconfigured to automatically conduct sale, purchase, evaluation,trade-in, activation, and configuration services within a single usersession or transaction. Improvements over existing systems and methodsmay include broadening and coordinating a variety of functions. Suchintegrated functions may include diagnostics of existing hardware,content transfer, configuration recreation, integration of processes forproviding trade-in credit and/or charging for purchase of a new mobileelectronic device. In a preferred embodiment, each such function may becombined within a single transaction, if desired. This may reduce costto the operator and user, take less time, and result in fewer vectorsfor error by removing post-transaction reconciliation concerns.

Exemplary Kiosk

Turning to FIGS. 4-7, the kiosk 102 includes a case 130 having a toppanel 132, a bottom panel 134, right- and left-side panels 136, 138, aback panel 140 and at least one front panel 142, together defining aninterior 143. Preferably, the at least one front panel 142 comprises twomovable front panels 144, 146. (See FIG. 5) Front panels 144, 146 may beswingable about hinges (not shown) positioned adjacent front edges of,respectively, right- and left-side panels 136, 138. The panels 144, 146preferably swing out to reveal an inner compartment 148 of the interior143. It is foreseen that the front panel(s) may be sliding, retractable,or the like without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept. Further, it is foreseen that only one front panel may beconfigured for movement with respect to the rest of a kiosk's casewithout departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept.Still further, it is foreseen that, in certain embodiments, one or moreof the side panels and back panel may be movable to provide maintenanceand/or inventory replenishment access to the inner compartment inaddition to or in lieu of a front panel without departing from thespirit of the present inventive concept.

The user interface 104 is preferably embedded within and/or positionedalong a front face 150 of the front panel 142. The user interface 104may include video devices of the following types: plasma, light-emittingdiode (LED), organic LED (OLED), Light Emitting Polymer (LEP) or PolymerLED (PLED), liquid crystal display (LCD), thin film transistor (TFT)LCD, LED side-lit or back-lit LCD, or the like, or combinations thereof.The user interface 104 may also include data input components such as akeyboard, a mouse, or other peripheral components and communicationcomponents that provide wired or wireless communication. The userinterface 104 may possess a square or a rectangular aspect ratio and maybe viewed in either a landscape or a portrait mode. Preferably, the userinterface 104 includes a touchscreen. In various embodiments, the userinterface 104 may include a touch screen occupying the entire screen ora portion thereof. The touch screen may allow the user to interact withthe user interface 104 by physically touching, swiping, or gesturing onareas of the screen.

Inventoried devices 108 are stored in the inner compartment 148 of thekiosk 102. The inner compartment 148 is preferably configured to storethe inventoried device 108, for example because the inventoried devices108 are stored along racks 109 in rows and multiple layers according to,for example, device type. The kiosk 102 may also include rotating baysor other organizing structures on which the inventoried devices 108 maybe placed (not shown). The inventoried devices 108 are cycled towardouter positions along each row for dispensation by motor-driven spirals111, which are preferably powered and controlled under the direction ofthe computing device 110, for example via wired connections thereto (notshown). It is foreseen that conveyors or other known devices for cyclinginventoried products toward outer positions along rows for dispensationmay be utilized in various embodiments without departing from the spiritof the present inventive concept. The inventoried devices 108 arepreferably wrapped—individually or in groups—in packaging (not shown) toprevent damage during dispensing operations.

The kiosk 102 also includes a vending bay 154 for dispensing inventorieddevices 108. The vending bay 154 includes a casing 156 embedded inleft-side panel 146. The casing 156 defines a compartment fortemporarily housing at least one inventoried device 108 during adispensing operation. The vending bay 154 includes a swinging door 158for shielding the vending bay 154. The door 158 may be hinged adjacent atop edge. A user may manually press the swinging door 158 generally inthe direction of the back panel 140 to access the vending bay 154. It isforeseen that the vending bay may be defined at least partly byadditional structure (not shown) extending into an inner compartment—forexample where larger mobile electronic devices are to be vended by thekiosk—without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept. It is also foreseen that multiple vending bays may be employedin a kiosk without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept.

The kiosk 102 also includes a transfer element 160 for transferringdevices 108 from the inner compartment 148 to the vending bay 154. Thetransfer element 160 includes a vending elevator 162 comprising a frame164 that defines a compartment 166. The compartment 166 opens into thevending bay 154 when the vending elevator 162 is operated and moved intodispensing alignment with the vending bay 154.

The transfer element 160 also includes a vertically-extending rail 168along which the vending elevator 162 rides. The vending elevator 162 isconfigured for locking engagement with at least one drive traincomponent (not shown) of the transfer element 160 that extends along asubstantial portion of the length of the rail 168. More particularly,the drive component of the transfer element 160 is driven by an electricmotor 169 along the rail 168 and, by virtue of its locked engagementwith the vending elevator 162, drives the vending elevator 162 up anddown during vending operations according to known principles. Anexemplary drive component may consist of a portion of a drivechain—which may, for example, be an endless chain with links that engagewith toothed wheels (not shown) driven by the electric motor 169—thattransmits power from the motor 169 to the vending elevator 162. However,it is foreseen that other known components for generating and/ortransferring power for lifting along a track or rail system may beemployed without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept.

In this manner, the vending elevator 162 moves between the vending bay154 and layers of devices 108 stored in inner compartment 148. Forinstance, upon arrival of the vending elevator 162 at a desired layer ofdevices 108, a motor-driven spiral 111 may be engaged to dispense one ofthe desired devices 108, causing it to drop into the vending elevator162. The driving electric motor 169 of the transfer element 160 mayreverse the direction of rotation of its output shaft (not shown)causing the drive component—and, therefore, the vending elevator 162 todescend until aligned with the vending bay 154. A user may obtain thedevice 108 from the vending bay 154.

It is foreseen that a transfer element may include additional verticalrails or tracks without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept. It is also foreseen that a variety of known devicesand mechanisms may be used in addition to or in lieu of the transferelement described herein without departing from the spirit of thepresent inventive concept, it being understood that the choice of aparticular means for achieving the internal transfer of mobileelectronic devices between compartments will be within the capability ofone having ordinary skill in the art following review of thisdescription. For instance, robotic retrieval mechanism(s), rotatingcompartments or the like may be used in addition to or in lieu of thevending elevator(s) without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept. Still further, it is foreseen that one or more of themotor-driven structures described above for internal mobile electronicdevice transfer may be configured to move mobile electronic devicesbetween any combination of the vending bay, a reverse-vending bay,storage bays, the inner compartment and other compartments within thekiosk (such as, for example, a dedicated diagnostics bay) withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present inventive concept. It is alsoforeseen that a single bay may serve as both a vending bay and areverse-vending bay without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept.

The transfer element 160 may also include an electrical connector 170comprising a data cable and a terminal including a plug 171 configuredto mate with the data port(s) of at least one type of mobile electronicdevice 108. The electrical connector 170 preferably also includes apower cable for providing power to the mobile electronic device(s) 108to which it connects. It is foreseen that multiple electrical connectorsmay be provided for wired data transfer with a variety of device typeswithout departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. Theterminal plug 171 of the connector 170 is positioned within the vendingelevator 162 to permit manual insertion into a data port of a mobileelectronic device 108. Manual insertion may occur after the user hasunwrapped the dispensed mobile electronic device following vending inembodiments where the electronic device 108 is packaged, for examplewhere the kiosk 102 instructs the user to re-insert the device 108 forconfiguration operations, if desired. It is foreseen that automatedinsertion may be employed without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention.

The connection provided by the electrical connector 170 may be used forperforming diagnostic processes, data transfer, configuration, resettingsoftware and memory devices to factory condition, and other processesdescribed elsewhere herein. Preferably, however, devices 108 are new andmay require only a subset of these processes, or none at all. It isforeseen that a plurality of electrical connectors may be positionedalong the racks or bays in the inner compartment, such that anelectrical connection may be established with individual mobileelectronic devices to carry out one or more of the processes describedherein prior to movement toward the vending bay, in certain embodimentswithout departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. Itis also foreseen that no connector for newly-vended devices may beprovided without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept.

The electrical connector 170 preferably also or alternatively includesone or more data cables and power cables for providing power andoperational signals from the computing device 110 to the motor 169. Itis foreseen that control of the motor 169 may alternatively oradditionally be achieved by providing a wireless receiver (not shown) incommunication with the motor 169 for receiving instructions wirelesslyfrom the computing device 110.

The kiosk 102 also includes a plurality of storage bays 172 configuredfor receiving pre-owned user mobile electronic devices 106 for at leasttemporary storage as described herein. The bays 172 may comprisecompartments substantially defined by casings (not shown) embedded inright-side panel 144 and arranged in columns and rows. (See FIG. 5) Thebays 172 may include doors 174 for selective unlocking as instructed bythe kiosk software application, for example when a user has requested adiagnostic of his device 106 and the kiosk software application hasassigned one of the bays 172 to the user. The unlocked door 174 may bemanual or self-opening—for instance, it may be spring-loaded or may bedriven my electric motor—without departing from the spirit of thepresent inventive concept. It is foreseen that the storage bays 172 maybe defined at least partly by additional structure (not shown) extendinginto inner compartment 148 for example where larger mobile electronicdevices 106 are to be received at kiosk 102—without departing from thespirit of the present inventive concept.

The kiosk 102 also includes a diagnostics element 176 for assessing thestatus of mobile electronic devices 106. The diagnostics element 176includes a diagnostics elevator 178 comprising a frame 180 that definesa compartment 182. The compartment 182 opens into one or more assignedbays 172 when the diagnostics elevator 178 is operated and moved intoalignment with any such bay 172, for example where the computing device110 has received a trade-in and/or diagnostics request and has assigneda bay 172 to the originating user through which to perform an assessmentof the subject device 106.

The diagnostics element 176 also includes a vertically-extending rail184 along which the diagnostics elevator 178 rides. The diagnosticselevator 178 is configured for locking engagement with at least onedrive train component (not shown) of the diagnostics element 176 thatextends along a substantial portion of the length of the rail 184. Moreparticularly, the drive component of the diagnostics element 176 isdriven by an electric motor 185 along the rail 184 and, by virtue of itslocked engagement with the diagnostics elevator 178, drives thediagnostics elevator 178 up and down during vending operations accordingto known principles. An exemplary drive component may consist of aportion of a drive chain—which may, for example, be an endless chainwith links that engage with toothed wheels (not shown) driven by theelectric motor 185—that transmits power from the motor 185 to thediagnostics elevator 178. However, it is foreseen that other knowncomponents for generating and/or transferring power for lifting along atrack or rail system may be employed without departing from the spiritof the present inventive concept.

It is foreseen that, in some embodiments, a diagnostics elevator mayalternatively or additionally travel to the vending bay or another bayused as a common point of deposit and/or pick up for all trade-in and/orother mobile electronic devices; in such embodiments, the storage baysmay not be opened to users to facilitate transactions, it beingunderstood that exchange of such devices may instead occur via thecommon device bay. For example, a kiosk 186 illustrated in FIG. 8includes a front panel 187. The kiosk 186 also includes a vending bay188 for vending of new mobile electronic devices. The kiosk 186 alsoincludes a common reverse-vending bay 190 for receiving trade-in mobileelectronic devices. Devices for trade in may be stored in one or morestorage bays, though in this embodiment the storage bays (not shown) areinternal and not accessible to users at the front panel 187. Instead, aninternal diagnostics elevator (not shown) may physically transfertrade-in devices to and from the reverse-vending bay 190 and theinternal storage bays. In such embodiments, conveyors, spirals or otherelectric motor-driven devices may be employed to complete internalmovements of mobile electronic devices between elevators and bays.

Returning to the illustrated embodiment, during operation thediagnostics elevator 178 may arrive at a desired storage bay 172. A usermay insert the subject mobile electronic device 106 into the bay 172and/or elevator 178 for performance of an assessment, as described inmore detail below. Upon completion of the assessment, the device 106may—particularly if a trade-in transaction is not to be completed—bemade available again via a door 174 of the bay 172 in which it wasassessed.

It is foreseen that the diagnostics element may include additionalvertical rails or tracks without departing from the spirit of thepresent inventive concept. It is also foreseen that a variety of knowndevices and mechanisms may be used in addition to or in lieu of thediagnostics element described herein without departing from the spiritof the present inventive concept, it being understood that the choice ofa particular means for achieving the internal transfer of mobileelectronic devices between storage bays will be within the capability ofone having ordinary skill in the art following review of thisdescription. For instance, robotic retrieval mechanism(s), rotatingcompartments or the like may be used in addition to or in lieu of thediagnostics elevator(s) without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept. Still further, it is foreseen that one or more of themotor-driven structures described above for internal mobile electronicdevice transfer may be configured to move mobile electronic devicesbetween any combination of the vending bay, a reverse-vending bay,storage bays, the inner compartment and other compartments within thekiosk (such as, for example, a dedicated diagnostics bay) withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present inventive concept. It is alsoforeseen that, as introduced above, a single bay may serve as both avending bay and a reverse-vending bay without departing from the spiritof the present inventive concept.

The diagnostics element 176 also includes a diagnostic cable wireharness 192 comprising a data cable and a terminal including a plug 193configured to mate with the data port(s) of at least one type of mobileelectronic device 106. The diagnostic cable wire harness 192 preferablyalso includes a power cable for providing power to the mobile electronicdevice(s) 106 to which it connects. It is foreseen that multipleelectrical connectors may be provided for wired data transfer with avariety of device types without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept. The terminal plug 193 of the wire harness 192 ispositioned within the diagnostics elevator 178 to permit manualinsertion into a data port of a mobile electronic device 106. It isforeseen that automated insertion may be employed without departing fromthe spirit of the present invention. The connection may be used forperforming diagnostic processes, data transfer, configuration, resettingsoftware and memory devices to factory condition, and other processesdescribed elsewhere herein.

It is foreseen that a plurality of electrical connectors may bepositioned in some or all of the storage bays, such that an electricalconnection may be established to carry out one or more of the datatransfer processes without the need for moving a common wire harnessbetween the various storage bays, in certain embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present inventive concept. It is alsoforeseen that two or more groups of a plurality of storage bays may beconfigured specifically to receive particular mobile electronic deviceswithout departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. Moreparticularly, a first group of storage bays may be configured to receivemobile electronic devices having a data port of a first type andconfiguration (i.e., standard), and each storage bay of the first groupmay include a corresponding electrical connector. Likewise, a secondgroup of storage bays may be configured to receive mobile electronicdevices having a data port of a second type and configuration, and eachstorage bay of the second group may include a corresponding electricalconnector. It is foreseen that additional groups of storage bays may besimilarly configured and, further, that the mobile electronic devicesstored in the inner compartment for vending may be similarlyorganized—including with specialized electrical connectors beingassociated with individual groups—without departing from the spirit ofthe present inventive concept. It is also foreseen that the wire harness192 may carry multiple plugs in addition to the terminal plug 193, thevarious plugs preferably being constructed according to at least twodifferent computer bus standards (e.g., USB connectors and connectorssold in connection with the trademark Lightning®).

The diagnostic cable wire harness 192 preferably also or alternativelyincludes one or more data cables and power cables for providing powerand operational signals to the motor 185 that drives the diagnosticselevator 178. It is foreseen that control of the motor 185 mayalternatively or additionally be achieved by providing a wirelessreceiver in communication with the motor 185 for receiving instructionswirelessly from the computing device 110. It is similarly foreseen thatdata transfer and communication between the computing device 110 and oneor more of the device(s) 106, 108—for example to perform diagnosticprocesses, data transfer, configuration, resetting software and memorydevices to factory condition, and other processes described elsewhereherein—may be established via wireless links, in addition to or in lieuof the wired connection(s) provided by electrical connector 170 and wireharness 192, without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept.

The kiosk 102 may also include a camera 194 (see FIG. 4) positionedalong the front panel 142. The camera 194 may be used for closed-loopmonitoring and/or data collection relating to events occurring aroundthe kiosk 102, for identifying users, and/or for visually identifyingone or more characteristics of the mobile electronic devices 106 usersseek to trade in. The kiosk 102 may also include a card reader 196 forreceiving and processing data regarding a user, a user device 106,and/or a financial/authentication card, for example to assist in useridentification/authentication and/or payment processes. The kiosk 102may also include a scanner 198 for interrogating a visually perceptibleidentification code (e.g., a bar code, QR-code, numerical code, etc.) toidentify a mobile electronic device 106, a user, a user identificationdocument, a user account, a user payment account/method, or the like.Each of the diagnostics element 176, transfer element 160, camera 194,card reader 196 and scanner 198 is connected via a wire connection 199,for example comprising a data cable, to the computing device 110 forelectrical communication therewith.

It is foreseen that other scanners may be employed, such as RFIDtransmitters/receivers/transceivers, in certain applications withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present inventive concept. Further, itis foreseen that the relative position, configuration, numerosity,and/or specific mode of operation of the sensor and computer inputcomponents of the kiosk described herein may be altered withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present inventive concept. Stillfurther, it is foreseen that additional security devices and/or means ofidentification may be used with a kiosk without departing from thespirit of the present inventive concept. For instance, biometric orgeofenced applications and/or hardware may be incorporated into theuser/device identification, validation and/or authentication processesdescribed herein.

Additional Embodiments of the Kiosk

Turning briefly now to the embodiments of FIGS. 8-15, it is initiallynoted that each of the kiosks 186, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800,900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300 is similar in some respects to the kiosk 102describe above. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, only certain of thecomponents unique to each additional embodiment will be described here,with a complete disclosure of the similar components being readilyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon a review of thedisclosure above.

Kiosk 186, as described above, includes common reverse-vending bay 190for receiving mobile electronic device(s) 106. (See FIG. 8)

The various components of kiosk 200 are arranged for aesthetic purposesto resemble an android or the like. (See FIG. 9)

The various components of kiosks 300, 400, 500 (FIGS. 10-12) arearranged to be particularly accessible to disabled individuals,including because pluralities of storage bays 302, 402, 502 arecondensed vertically and spread across a greater horizontal span (ascompared to the kiosk 102) to increase the chances that the bays 302,402, 502 will be within reach of an individual sitting in a wheelchair.Likewise, user interfaces 304, 404, 504 and other peripheral sensors andinput devices are positioned nearer to the reach of wheelchair-boundindividuals to facilitate easier access.

The various components of kiosk 600 (FIG. 13)—including storage bays 602and a user interface 604—occupy a greater proportion of the total spaceavailable along a front panel 606. The components are also condensedvertically and spread across a greater horizontal span (as compared tothe kiosk 102). The kiosk 600 exemplifies arrangements that may be wallmounted. It is foreseen that such a wall mounted kiosk may draw from newmobile electronic device inventory (not shown) that is stored within awall on which the kiosk is mounted. Similarly, it is foreseen that sucha wall mounted kiosk may deposit pre-owned mobile electronic devices instorage bays or the like that are also within the wall on which thekiosk is mounted.

Kiosks 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200 (FIG. 14) exemplify variousadditional layouts of components discussed above. Of particular note,kiosks 800 and 1000 include secondary video devices 808, 1008. Thesecondary video devices 808, 1008 are preferably embedded respectivelywithin and/or positioned along front panels 806, 1006. The secondaryvideo devices 808, 1008 may include video devices of the followingtypes: plasma, light-emitting diode (LED), organic LED (OLED), LightEmitting Polymer (LEP) or Polymer LED (PLED), liquid crystal display(LCD), thin film transistor (TFT) LCD, LED side-lit or back-lit LCD, orthe like, or combinations thereof. The secondary video devices 808, 1008may also include data input components such as a keyboard, a mouse, orother peripheral components and communication components that providewired or wireless communication. The secondary video devices 808, 1008may possess a square or a rectangular aspect ratio and may be viewed ineither a landscape or a portrait mode. Preferably, each of the secondaryvideo devices 808, 1008 includes a touchscreen. In various embodiments,each of the secondary video devices 808, 1008 may include a touch screenoccupying the entire screen or a portion thereof. In each case, thetouch screen may allow the user to interact with the secondary videodevice 808 or 1008 by physically touching, swiping, or gesturing onareas of the screen.

The secondary video devices 808, 1008 are preferably activated todisplay information while a user is transacting at the kiosks 800, 1000.More particularly, the secondary video devices 808, 1008 may—under theinstructions of the computing device 110 and/or remotely-issuedinstructions (such as those that might be issued by an ad server or thelike)—display a variety of different content. For instance, thesecondary video devices 808, 1008 may display instructional content tohelp guide the movements or selections that a user may be required tomake. Such content is preferably displayed on the secondary videodevices 808, 1008 to de-clutter user interfaces 804, 1004 during suchtransactions and/or to provide visually distinct, unrelated material foroptional engagement by the user. Such unrelated material may includeadvertisements for third party services and/or goods. In addition, thesecondary video devices 808, 1008 may be activated to display additionalofferings that are related to users' transactions, for exampleadvertisements for add-on services offered by telecommunicationscarriers for mobile electronic devices being offered for purchase. It isforeseen that additional types of information may be displayed at and/orof user engagement may be solicited or received at the secondary videodevices 808, 1008 without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept. It is also foreseen that the computing device 110 maytailor the information displayed at the secondary video devices 808,1008 according to information retrieved or input relating to eachindividual user to enhance the user experience.

Turning briefly to more general discussion, a kiosk according toembodiments of the present inventive concept may be designed in amodular, extensible manner in which broad functions of the kiosk may beimplemented in components that may be removed, added, extended, orduplicated to produce unique implementations to suit specificcircumstances. For example, a kiosk may consist of a payment terminal,one or more collections of lockers, one or more conveyor, elevator, orrobotic forward vending solutions, and one or more carousels ofproducts, in any combination; for further example, in a preferredembodiment, a kiosk may consist of a monolithic implementationincorporating payment and related activities, forward vending ofpurchases, and reverse-vending of trades. Further, any of the foregoingtypes of kiosks might be extended with additional elements as described,in any combination, and in any quantity as appropriate to theimplementation. Further still, these implementations may be presented invarious styles and configurations for purposes of branding, theimprovement of accessibility, or to meet other requirements dependent inpart or wholly upon aesthetic, functional, or spatial attributes.

For instance, kiosk 1300 (FIG. 15) is a modular embodiment in whichvarious components described above are housed in different housings orcasings. Nevertheless, the kiosk 1300 may be, and preferably is,operated using a common and coordinated central kiosk computer inelectrical and/or wireless communication with each modular unit thatcomprises the kiosk 1300. It should be noted that a wireless receiver ispreferably included, and/or cable/wire connections are preferablyreceived, at each modular unit to provide for communication with andcoordination by the central kiosk computer. It should also be noted thatthe modular units are preferably placed in proximity to one another(e.g., within about twenty feet (20 ft.)) for user convenience.

Exemplary Computer-Implemented Method

FIG. 16 depicts a listing of steps of an exemplary computer-implementedmethod 1400 for vending and reverse-vending mobile electronic devices106, 108. The steps may be performed in the order shown in FIG. 16, orthey may be performed in a different order. Furthermore, some steps maybe performed concurrently as opposed to sequentially. In addition, somesteps may be optional. The steps of the computer-implemented method 1400may be performed by the computing device 110. In a preferred embodiment,a computer-readable medium of the memory element 114 is provided forvending and reverse-vending mobile electronic devices 106, 108. Thecomputer-readable medium may include the kiosk software applicationstored thereon, wherein the kiosk software application instructs theprocessing element 112 of the computing device 110 to perform the stepsdescribed herein. The computing device 110 may perform certain of thesteps described herein through communication links 122 of thecommunication network 120.

The method may include, and the computer-readable medium may instructthe processing element 112 to perform, additional, fewer, or alternativeactions, including those discussed elsewhere herein. For example, thekiosk software application may instruct the processing element 112 toissue operational instructions to at least some of the motors that drivemoving components of the kiosk 102 to achieve actions described orfairly implied herein. For another example, the kiosk softwareapplication may direct or manage the execution of instructions receivedfrom third party systems, such as instructions received from carrierservers 116, 118 of telecommunications carriers that may relate to:recordation of the sale/purchase of a device 106, 108 by a user;configuration, setup, data transfer and/or restoration of such a device106, 108; pricing for the sale/purchase of such a device 106, 108, orother such operations and data transfers that may correspond to thetransactions and/or steps described herein.

Returning to the method of FIG. 16, it is broadly noted that input fromand selections of the user described herein may be solicited and/orprovided at or via one or more of the user interface 104 and a wirelessor wired link between the kiosk 102 and the user mobile electronicdevice 106 and/or another user device. It is foreseen that other userinput/output devices may be provided and/or that input may be acceptedfrom same without departing from the spirit of the present inventiveconcept. Data exchange between the kiosk 102 and one or both of usermobile electronic devices 106, 108 may be established via wireless orwired connection. It is envisioned that a user may exit hisuser/transaction session at any time via submission of correspondinginput to the kiosk 102. The user may also be involuntarily exited fromhis user session if all options for services/transactions areexhausted/completed. After exiting a user session, the user ispreferably prompted to repeat the sign in process described below iffurther input is received from the user.

Turning more particularly to step 1401, the method 1400 may includecompleting a sign-in process to identify the user. The sign-in processat step 1401 may additionally or alternatively be directed to confirmingauthorization of the user to access information regarding and/or to makechanges to a user account. The user account may be maintained bycomputing device 110 of the kiosk 102, by a remote server dedicated atleast in part to operation of the kiosk 102, and/or be accessible withina third party database such as one maintained at a carrier server 116,118 by a telecommunications carrier. The sign-in process 1401 mayrequire entry of at least one unique combination of alphanumeric andother characters—such as a username or e-mail address and, preferably, apassword. The kiosk 102 may accept the user's entered values byconfirming their authenticity via computing device 110 and/or at leastone of carrier servers 116, 118. It is foreseen that the sign-in process1401 may include or consist of sensing and/or receiving data regardingaspects of the user and/or a device 106 of the user to determineidentity and/or authorization. For example, the kiosk 102 may completeall or part of the sign-in step 1401 by collecting biometric data viathe camera 194 of the kiosk 102 and/or by utilizing near fieldcommunication to identify the device 106. It is also foreseen thatcertain of the services offered by the kiosk 102 may not require asign-in process.

Once the sign-in step 1401 is complete, any resulting authorization toaccess and/or change user account information, settings and/oragreement/subscription status may persist throughout the user session,i.e., until the user completes all requested transactions and/or choosesto end the user session prematurely. It is foreseen that a delay ofpredetermined duration by the user in making a selection or input may,however, trigger a requirement to sign-in again before proceeding withone or more transaction(s) at the kiosk 102 without departing from thespirit of the present inventive concept.

Referring to step 1402, the user may be prompted or offered theopportunity to input the type of desired transaction(s) and/orservice(s) to be facilitated by the kiosk 102. Preferably, the user isrequired to choose whether or not he desires to trade in a device 106before proceeding with a purchase transaction. It is foreseen, however,that the purchase-related steps described herein may precede thetrade-in related steps without departing from the spirit of the presentinventive concept. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the kiosk 102will offer transactions beyond vending and reverse-vending devices 108,106. For example, the kiosk 102 may permit the user to adjust, addand/or remove various carrier transactions and services, including butnot limited to account maintenance, bill payment, service andsubscription selection, establishing new lines of service, authorizingand de-authorizing users of features and services, and transferal ofownership or authority.

If the user selects a trade-in transaction, eligibility for a trade-intransaction may be checked 1403 by or via the computing device 110.Eligibility data may be used to check 1403 eligibility for a trade in.The eligibility data may be stored locally at computing device 110and/or remotely, for example at at least one of the carrier servers 116,118. The eligibility data may relate to the legal ownership status ofthe device 106 the user proposes to trade in. The legal ownership statuseligibility data may include, for example, data obtained from a stolendevice database. The legal ownership status eligibility data may alsoinclude data regarding whether the device 106 is currently leased or waspreviously purchased outright by the user. It is foreseen that thespecific criteria and rules governing the determination of eligibility1403 for a trade in may vary situationally and in view of the risktolerance of a particular kiosk operator, may be predetermined andincluded as part of the kiosk software application and/or may be imposedon the proposed transaction by a telecommunications carrier thatprovides services to the user, all without departing from the spirit ofthe present inventive concept.

In a simple embodiment, the eligibility check 1403 may be completed bythe computing device 110 by interrogation of at least one of the carrierservers 116, 118. The computing device 110 may confirm—for example byobtaining and querying a serial number, mobile identification number ormobile subscription identification number associated with the device106—that the user identified through the sign-in step 1401 is theunencumbered owner of the device 106 (and is not, for example, alessee). The computing device 110 may also query the stolen devicedatabase to ensure the device identification number and/or identifieduser are not represented in the database. The computing device 110 mayalso determine whether a services contract—for example one to which theuser and a telecommunications carrier are parties—specifies a minimumtime period before and/or a date on which the user's device 106 may beupgraded to a device 108. If the minimum time period has passed and/orthe date has been reached, such a criterion may be satisfied.

If the criteria comprising the eligibility check 1403 have beensatisfied, the computing device 110 may render 1404 a determinationregarding whether the device 106 presented by the user is eligible for atrade in. The result may simply be registered in the computing device110, but may also be the subject of a notification displayed ortransmitted for display to the user.

If the determination 1404 is negative, the user may be prompted oroffered 1405 the opportunity to purchase a device 108 from the kiosk102. The user may select a purchase transaction. The details of apurchase transaction are discussed in later sections below.

If the determination 1404 is positive, a storage bay 172 of the kiosk102 may be at least temporarily assigned 1406 to the user device 106 bythe processing element 112. The processing element 112 may additionallyinstruct that the assigned bay 172 be unlocked for insertion of thedevice 106 and that the diagnostics elevator 178 be moved into alignmentwith the assigned bay 172. It should be noted, however, that assignmentof a storage bay 172 may be delayed until after a completed trade-intransaction becomes imminent—for example where a wireless connection isused to complete the diagnostics steps outlined herein—without departingfrom the spirit of the present inventive concept.

If communication between the device 106 and the kiosk 102 has not yetbeen established sufficiently for the performance of a diagnostics check(see step 1412 described below), the kiosk 102 may attempt to establish1407 such a connection. Establishing 1407 a connection may includeestablishing electrical communication between the diagnostic cable wireharness 168 and the device 106. In such embodiments, the user ispreferably instructed or invited to place the device 106 into theassigned storage bay 172 and/or diagnostics elevator 178. The computingdevice 110 may cause display of instructions for doing so at the userinterface 104, for example in the form of animations or the like showinginsertion of a device into a storage bay and mating a diagnostic cablewire harness to a data port of the device. For another example, thecomputing device 110 pay cause display of instructions—which arepreferably customized to the device type—for establishing a wirelessconnection between the communication element 115 and the device 106using a user interface of the device 106.

The computing device 110 may render 1408 a determination regardingwhether the data connection was properly established 1407. Inembodiments where a wired connection is sought, the determination 1408may include determining whether the diagnostic cable wire harness 168 isfully and properly seated in the data port of the device 106, forexample by determining whether all data transfer prongs or otherelectrical contacts at the interface are transferring signals and/orcurrent appropriately. The determination 1408 may also include asoftware and memory access inquiry in which the computing device 110confirms that sufficient access to device 106 utilities and memory hasbeen made available to successfully perform the required diagnostic(s).

In such embodiments, the determination 1408 may also include sensingwhether the door 174 of the assigned storage bay 172 is closed. The openor closed status of the door 174 may be sensed, for example, usingsimple electrical or magnetic elements (not shown) that are mounted inpairs. One element of each pair may be mounted to the door 174 and theother may be mounted to a frame or fixed latch of each of the storagebays 172. In this manner, proximity of the elements of each pair and/orcompletion of an electrical circuit therebetween may produce and/orenable a signal indicating closure has occurred. At least one element ofeach such pair of closure sensing elements is preferably in electricalcommunication with the communication element 115 of the computing device110 for transfer of the signal indicating closure. In a simpleembodiment, a pair of closure elements may comprise two metal strips. Inanother embodiment, a pair of closure elements may comprise a pair ofmagnets and/or a magnet and a strip or block of ferromagnetic metal.

If the determination 1408 is negative—indicating sufficientcommunication has not been established 1407, that the device 106 is notproperly mated to the diagnostic cable wire harness 168, and/or that thedoor 174 is not closed—the computing device 110 may execute 1409 atroubleshooting application. The troubleshooting application mayinstruct more detailed analysis of the deficiencies leading to thenegative determination 1408, which may include targeted interrogation ofthe connection with and/or state of the device 106 using electricalsignals and/or data collection. The troubleshooting application may alsoissue instructions to the user—which may include animated instructionsillustrating how the user might move—and/or request input from the userfor information that might be relevant in further narrowing thepotential cause of the deficiency(ies). It is foreseen that a person ofordinary skill will be capable, upon review of this disclosure, ofpreparing an appropriate troubleshooting application for resolvingdeficiencies that may occur based on particular implementations of thepresent inventive concept.

Cyclically or at the conclusion of the troubleshooting process, thecomputer may render 1410 a determination as to whether the deficiencieshave been resolved. The result may simply be registered in the computingdevice 110, but may also be the subject of a notification displayed ortransmitted to the user.

If the determination 1410 is negative—indicating that thetroubleshooting application has exhausted the routines available foraddressing the deficiency(ies) that were identified and/or that thedeficiency(ies) could not be properly identified—a rejection process maybe triggered 1411 for the device 106. The computing device 110 mayinstruct that the assigned storage bay 172 be unlocked 1412 so that theuser may remove the device 106. The status of the storage bay 172 may bechanged in the memory element 114 to reflect that it is unassigned. Theuser session may be ended—for example where the user has previouslyindicated no desire to purchase a new device 108. If the user hasindicated that other transactions are desired and/or if the kiosk 102still requires additional input regarding whether other transactions aredesired, the computing device 110 may accordingly initiate one or moreof such transactions and/or prompts.

If the determination 1410 is positive—indicating that thetroubleshooting application properly resolved any deficiency(ies)—or ifthe determination 1408 was positive, the computing device 110 mayinstruct that the assigned storage bay 172 be locked and the diagnosticapplication be executed 1413.

The results of execution 1413 of the diagnostic application may includedata permitting identification/categorization of certain aspects of thedevice 106 that are relevant—according to the kiosk software applicationand/or third party standards—to determination of a value for the device106. For instance, the diagnostic application may contain instructionsfor running tests resulting in data indicating the processing speed,graphics display capability, data port integrity, touch screenintegrity, peripheral device and camera functionality, and othercharacteristics of the individual device 106 which may differ fromfactory condition devices of the same type. It is foreseen that thecamera 194 may be utilized to inspect the device 106 for visuallyperceptible variations from factory condition without departing from thespirit of the present inventive concept. Variations of these types mayresult from normal wear and tear, damage or the like.

The computing device 110 may generate 1414 an offer for display to theuser at the user interface 104. The kiosk software application maygenerate 1414 the offer at least in part by accessing a pricingsheet—whether residing in the memory element 114 and/or a carrier server116, 118 or trade-in partner database—indicating a value for each typeof device that may be traded in at the kiosk 102. The pricing sheet mayspecify different values based on variation in detected qualities orstatus of the device 106 determined during execution 1413 of thediagnostic application outlined above. It is also foreseen that thekiosk software application may simply export all relevant data collectedby the kiosk 102 to a third party server or the like so that a value oroffer price may be returned by the third party server based on executionof calculations done remotely. It is foreseen that a combination oflocal and remote calculations may lead to generation of an offer pricewithout departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept.

The computing device 110 may cause display 1415 of the offer to theuser. The user may reject the offer displayed at the user interface 104.The computing device 110 may instruct that the assigned storage bay 172be unlocked 1412 so that the user may remove the device 106. The statusof the storage bay 172 may be changed in the memory element 114 toreflect that it is unassigned. The user session may be ended—for examplewhere the user has previously indicated no desire to purchase a newdevice 108. If the user has indicated that other transactions aredesired and/or if the kiosk 102 still requires additional inputregarding whether other transactions are desired, the computing device110 may accordingly initiate one or more of such transactions and/orprompts.

The user may accept the offer displayed 1415 at the user interface 104for trade in of the device 106. This may lead to completion of the tradein transaction or portion of the transaction and the end of the usersession or, preferably, to a new purchase transaction (as describedbelow). Again, it is foreseen that new purchases and trade-in processesmay be performed in varying orders without departing from the spirit ofthe present inventive concept.

It should be noted that, during the ongoing user session, the computingdevice 110 preferably stores in the memory element 114 the amount of thetrade-in offer that the user accepted, if applicable, so that the amountmay be applied 1416 as a credit toward any purchase, for example towardthe purchase of a new device 108.

The computing device 110 of the kiosk 102 may cause the display 1417 ofpurchase options to the user at the user interface 104 to facilitateselection of a device 108. More particularly, the kiosk softwareapplication may instruct the display 1417 of listings of one or moremobile electronic device(s) 108 and associated pricing at the userinterface 104 for selection/confirmation by the user (i.e., the purchasedevice confirmation process).

The user may select a device 108 to be purchased. The computing device110 may cause the display 1418 of a prompt at the user interface 104requesting that the user select whether or not a content and/or settingsor the like are to be transferred to the new device 108. Optionally, theprompt may additionally request that the user specify whether dataresiding on the traded in device 106 should be transferred to a remotedata server and/or to the new device 108. It is foreseen that the promptfor the user to make a data transfer request relating to the trade indevice 106 may be made during the trade in process described abovewithout departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept.

If the user selects an option for transferring data/settings to and/orfrom at least one device 106, 108, a sync record may be created 1419.The sync record preferably records the origin and destination of eachtransfer together with certain metadata regarding the data/settingstransferred and the date/time of the transfer. In some instances, eachsync record may also include a copy of the data/settings transferred. Inconjunction with or in addition to such transfer(s), the kiosk 102 mayperform additional configuration of the new device 108 prior to vending,for example to ensure proper activation and/or operation of the newdevice, including by taking into account details regarding the user, theuser's account, and/or the technological and/or business-relatedrequirements, parameters and/or settings required by an associated thirdparty technology/service provider such as a telecommunications carrier.Such additional configuration may also be recorded in the sync record oranother record. In most embodiments, transfers to and from and/orconfiguration of the new device 108 will be preceded by instructionsissued by the computing device 110 to the user for unwrapping the device108 from any packaging, turning the device 108 on, and preparing thedevice for such transfer(s) and/or configuration (for example, byreturning the device 108 to the vending bay 154 and connecting it to theplug 171).

The computing device 110 preferably generates 1420 a final price for thetransaction to be completed. Preferably, the final price includes acredit for the agreed upon amount (see step 1415 described above) to bepaid for the trade in device 106 as well as the price for the selecteddevice 108 to be purchased. The final price may also or alternativelyincorporate any additional services the user may have selected andpurchased that were, for example, offered on behalf of a third partytelecommunications carrier and/or any additional unrelated goods and/orservices the user may have selected that were offered to the user, forexample via secondary video devices according to embodiments of thepresent inventive concept.

The computing device 110 may issue instructions for display 1421 of aprompt at the user interface 104 requesting confirmation of thetransaction terms—including the final price—by the user. If the termsare rejected, the user may be prompted to identify one or more items tobe removed from the transaction to permit it to proceed. It is foreseenthat certain items—for example the amount offered for the trade indevice 106—may be contingent on other items such as the purchase of acertain type of new device 108. Therefore, the ability of the user toadd or remove items from the final transaction may be limited. Morebroadly, if the terms of the transaction are not agreed upon, thecomputing device 110 may issue instructions that the assigned storagebay 172, if any, be unlocked 1422 and that a prompt be displayed 1423 atthe user interface 104 requesting retrieval of the trade in device 106.If no items of the proposed transaction are to be carried to completion,the computing device 110 may instruct 1424 that the transaction bevoided.

If a set of transaction terms are agreed to by the user, the computingdevice 110 may execute 1425 or request execution of a payment andbilling application to complete the transaction and transmit recordsrelating to same. In an embodiment, the computing device 110 may bill orrequest billing to a user's account by communicating the details of thetransaction to at least one of the carrier servers 116, 118, in additionto or in lieu of taking other forms of payment at the kiosk 102.

If the device 108 is being held in the kiosk 102, the computing device110 may also instruct vending 1426 of the purchased device 108 viavending bay 154. The computing device 110 may also instruct that areceipt be e-mailed 1427 to a user e-mail address and/or be printed forthe user. The computing device 110 may also instruct that the traded indevice 106 be wiped to place its software and memory elements in afactory condition, for example. The computing device 110 may update itsinventory records to reflect the possession and ownership changesrelating to the traded in device 106. To the extent automatic uploadingof details regarding the transaction(s) has not already occurred, thecomputing device 110 may initiate and/or schedule such data transfer sothat remote servers, applications and databases—for example, billing andtransaction databases, carrier service databases and remote kioskcoordination servers—may reconcile records accordingly.

The system and method so described offers a number of advantages overexisting systems. For instance, use of the automated kiosk preferablymitigates procedural, factual and/or judgmental errors experienced incurrent systems by enforcing adherence to policy, criteria forevaluation and pricing and systematic processing. The reduction invariance experienced by implementing systems according to embodiments ofthe present inventive concept may also permit the computing device ofthe kiosk to identify and correct system errors and inadequate orinaccurate policies. In the preferred embodiment, through centralizedcompletion of the transaction(s) outlined or understood from review ofthe above, storage of resulting transaction data in a preferably uniformstructured data format, and organized and regular distribution of thetransaction data to various stakeholders, users may have improved userexperiences, record errors may be reduced, and time and labor may besaved.

One or more of the foregoing steps may optionally be implemented inconjunction with and/or through execution of a machine learning program.The machine learning program may include curve fitting, regression modelbuilders, convolutional or deep learning neural networks, Bayesianmachine learning techniques, or the like. The machine learning programmay associate patterns from prior transactions with known errors toinform generation of error prediction indicators, iteratively improvethe operation of the kiosk, and the like.

Preferably, a machine learning program residing on a memory associatedwith the computing device 110 may be trained to determine the occurrenceof such errors, based upon historical data regarding prior transactionsoccurring at the kiosk(s) and any post-transaction data that may beavailable. After which, newly received requests and transactions may beinput by the computing device 110 into the trained machine learningprogram for improved treatment of such requests. The kiosk may alsopredictively offer or suggest additional transactions based on previoustransaction history, or the aggregation of information elements gatheredduring previous transactions.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of thegeneral inventive concept, the manner in which the general inventiveconcept is constructed and used, the characteristics of theconstruction, and advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the newand useful structures, devices, tools, elements, arrangements, parts andcombinations, are set forth in the appended claims.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the general inventiveconcept herein described, and all statements of the scope of the generalinventive concept which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A kiosk for vending and reverse-vending ofmobile electronic devices, the kiosk comprising: a case that defines aninner compartment configured to store mobile devices for vending, thecase including a front panel; a user interface positioned along thefront panel; a vending bay; a storage bay configured to receive usermobile devices; a diagnostic cable wire harness configured to beaccessible at the storage bay; and a computing device having acommunication element configured for communication with at least onecarrier server, wherein the kiosk includes an electrical connectorpositioned at least partly in the vending bay.
 2. The kiosk of claim 1,wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.
 3. The kiosk ofclaim 1, wherein the diagnostic cable wire harness and the electricalconnector are each in electrical communication with the computing devicevia wires.
 4. The kiosk of claim 1, including a plurality of additionalstorage bays.
 5. The kiosk of claim 4, wherein the diagnostic cable wireharness is configured for automated transition between the storage bayand the plurality of additional storage bays.
 6. The kiosk of claim 5,wherein the diagnostic cable wire harness includes a plurality of plugsconfigured according to at least two different computer bus standards.7. The kiosk of claim 5, wherein the kiosk includes a motor configuredto drive the automated transition of the diagnostic cable wire harnessbetween storage bays and the diagnostic cable wire harness includes atleast one of a data cable and a power cable in electrical communicationwith the motor.
 8. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the kiosk includes acamera positioned along the front panel in electrical communication withthe computing device via wires.
 9. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein thekiosk includes a card reader positioned along the front panel inelectrical communication with the computing device via wires.
 10. Thekiosk of claim 1, wherein the kiosk includes a visual scanner positionedalong the front panel in electrical communication with the computingdevice via wires.
 11. The kiosk of claim 1, wherein the kiosk includes asecondary video device.
 12. A kiosk for vending and reverse-vending ofmobile electronic devices, the kiosk comprising: a case that defines aninner compartment configured to store mobile devices for vending, thecase including a front panel; a user interface positioned along thefront panel; a vending bay; a storage bay configured to receive usermobile devices; a diagnostic cable wire harness configured to beaccessible at the storage bay; a computing device having a communicationelement configured for communication with at least one carrier server,and a plurality of additional storage bays, wherein the diagnostic cablewire harness is configured for automated transition between the storagebay and the plurality of additional storage bays.
 13. The kiosk of claim12, wherein the diagnostic cable wire harness includes a plurality ofplugs configured according to at least two different computer busstandards.
 14. The kiosk of claim 12, wherein the kiosk includes a motorconfigured to drive the automated transition of the diagnostic cablewire harness between storage bays and the diagnostic cable wire harnessincludes at least one of a data cable and a power cable in electricalcommunication with the motor.